Detroit Pistons  Five things to know about NBA draft including the favorites at No. 12

Henry Ellenson, right, poses for a photo with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected 18th overall by the Detroit Pistons during the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 23, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

AUBURN HILLS >> Months of preparation from the Detroit Pistons scouts and staff, including team president and coach Stan Van Gundy, has prepared them for making one pick Thursday night in the NBA draft.

Detroit drafts at the No. 12 spot in the first round. Their second-round pick was traded to the Utah Jazz in the deal that brought Reggie Jackson to Detroit in February 2015.

Here are five things to know about the Pistons draft:

1. Needs: Don’t expect the Pistons to focus their attention on one position. While they may need shooting, they will look at a blend of the best talent, character and then a guy who would fit their needs. Van Gundy doesn’t like to put too much emphasis on need because that could change with free agency or trades. He also said it is not a given that the pick will contribute as a rookie. It depends on the individual they choose.

2. They could make a trade for a second-round pick but don’t be surprised if that doesn’t happen. One reason is they already have a crowded roster. Another is that a deep draft means there will be plenty of talented players left undrafted. Van Gundy said they plan to make use of the new two-way contracts allowed in the NBA this year.

3. General manager Jeff Bower has been glued to his phone so some kind of trade is possible.. “The closer you get to the draft the more interest and discussion takes place on different picks, value of pick and the certainty of how teams view those picks,’’ Bower said.

4. Several mock drafts have the Pistons picking from a small group of players including shooting guard Donovan Mitchell (Louisville), forward/center Zach Collins (Gonzaga), shooting guard Luke Kennard (Duke) and point guard Frank Ntilikina (France).

5. The draft starts at 7 p.m. on Thursday with each team getting five minutes per pick in the first round. It will be televised on ESPN. The Philadelphia 76ers have the first overall pick. Seventy-three underclassmen (including 10 international players) have officially entered the draft which features 60 draft spots split between first and second rounds.